The Lonely Wild are an ambitious bunch of Californians. Eschewing the popular tendency of young bands to start a guitar-drums-bass trio that commits lo-fi songs to tape in a garage, The Lonely Wild is a five-piece that creates epic folk rock with mournful flourishes of trumpet and keys.
The group recently brought their live show to Austin’s Holy Mountain, touring behind the recent release of their debut album The Sun As It Comes. Live, the band sounded tight as they moved through their repertoire of songs, clearly displaying their cohesiveness as a group nearing the end of tour. While the individual members and the band as a whole possess undeniable talent, they’re best when they set themselves apart from like-minded contemporaries and go big. This is most evident both recorded and live on standout songs “Buried in the Murder” and “Everything You Need.” On the former, singer Andrew Carroll belts out emotionally raw vocals over furious instrumentation, while the latter juxtaposes driving guitars with wavering brass, recalling bands such as Neutral Milk Hotel and Beirut.
Multi-instrumentalist Jessi Williams is an incredible asset, moving between melodica, keys, bass, and tambourine. It’s this kind of role that can set a band apart, and does for The Lonely Wild. Utilizing dexterous band members to vary the tone and arrangement of each song grants flexibility in style and mood that enriches the group’s overall aural palate. Not to mention, Williams’ backing vocals are a welcome addition to the arrangements as well.
The Lonely Wild has certainly set the bar high for themselves. True potential exists within this band, and if they can harness their talents into epic anthems like their most ambitious songs, we expect you’ll be hearing their name again soon.
All photos © Bryan Parker & Pop Pres International. Click any image to open in slideshow viewer.
